With the Olympic break looming and the NHL trade deadline not far behind, the Philadelphia Flyers find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. A league-wide trade freeze from February 4 to 22 means time is ticking for front offices to get their rosters in order.
For the Flyers-who are still very much in the playoff hunt-this stretch could be about more than just making a push. It might be about shaping the next phase of the franchise.
And that could mean parting ways with some familiar names.
Rasmus Ristolainen: Time to Turn the Page?
Let’s start with Rasmus Ristolainen. The 6-foot-4 defenseman has been the subject of trade chatter for a few seasons now, and with good reason.
Since arriving in Philadelphia, he’s managed to reshape parts of his game-tightening up defensively and bringing a physical edge that fits the Flyers’ identity. But here’s the thing: Ristolainen has played 789 NHL games and hasn’t seen a single minute of playoff action.
That’s the longest active drought in the league. And for a player whose style seems tailor-made for postseason hockey, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
The problem? Availability.
Ristolainen has suited up for just 13 games this season. He missed the start of the year recovering from offseason upper-body surgery, only to land back on injured reserve with another upper-body issue.
Injuries have been a recurring theme-he hasn’t played a full 82-game season since 2015-16, and over the last three years, he’s appeared in just 107 games total. That kind of track record doesn’t exactly boost trade value.
Still, there’s a case to be made for moving on. The Flyers have a wave of young blueliners-think Hunter McDonald, Oliver Bonk, Ty Murchison-who are knocking on the NHL door.
And this year’s team has shown it can win without Ristolainen in the lineup. If there’s a chance to flip the 31-year-old for future assets, it might be time to pull the trigger.
Bobby Brink: The Odd Man Out?
Bobby Brink isn’t a player the Flyers are eager to give up on. But sometimes the numbers game forces tough decisions.
The 5-foot-9 winger has taken a step forward this season, already setting a new career high in goals with 13. He’s been skating on a pseudo-third line alongside Noah Cates and Matvei Michkov, and while he’s shown flashes, his assist numbers have dipped-just 9 this season compared to 29 last year. Part of that drop can be traced to the loss of Tyson Foerster, whose lethal 24.4 shooting percentage before a season-ending injury made Brink’s playmaking look even sharper.
Brink’s not struggling, but he’s in a crowded position group. With Trevor Zegras and Denver Barkey locking down spots on the wing and prospects like Porter Martone and Alex Bump waiting in the wings, Brink’s spot in the long-term plan isn’t guaranteed. He’s also set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and with the Flyers looking to stay cap-flexible, younger and cheaper options might win out.
If the right offer comes along-especially one that helps address a different need-it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Flyers make a move here.
Owen Tippett: High Risk, High Reward?
Now to Owen Tippett, the name that probably raises the most eyebrows when it pops up in trade talks.
Fresh off a monster game-three goals and an assist against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche-Tippett’s value may be at an all-time high. The 26-year-old winger has been a bit of an enigma for Flyers fans: stretches of brilliance followed by stretches of inconsistency. But this season, he’s been more steady, putting up 18 goals and 15 assists and showing signs that he’s rounding into form.
So why would the Flyers even consider moving him?
It comes down to roster construction. The Flyers are deep on the wings but shallow at center.
And that’s not a problem you can ignore. Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt are the top center prospects in the pipeline, but neither projects as a sure-fire top-line pivot.
If the Flyers want to address that need-and they should-it’s going to cost them. Tippett, with his age, production, and upside, is exactly the kind of player who could bring back a high-end young center in return.
That said, don’t expect the Flyers to deal Tippett just for the sake of shaking things up. He’s been heating up, and the team has struggled to generate consistent offense. Unless the return is significant, it’s hard to see Philadelphia pulling the plug on a player who’s finally starting to look like a core piece.
With the trade freeze fast approaching, the Flyers have some serious decisions to make. They’re walking the line between staying competitive now and building for the future. Whether it’s moving a veteran like Ristolainen, making a tough call on Brink, or weighing the upside of a blockbuster involving Tippett, the next few weeks could help define where this team is headed-not just for the rest of the season, but for years to come.